"It's The God In Me" Elder Marissa Farrow Sunday August 22, 2021

welcome aboard the virtual ship with fellowship chicago while we can't have church traditionally we can still be the church consistently new method same message new platform same power new season same god now let's go into our worship experience hey family god bless you god bless you i pray that you are well i pray that you are healthy i pray that your family is well first let me just pause and say thank you thank you for allowing my wife and i some space in this month for our sabbatical fellowship there's no church on the planet like you and i want you to know that i love you and i appreciate your kindness your maturity and even your generosity throughout this month i'm so glad that we at fellowship understand that god is the only god and the pastor is simply a vessel and there are seasons when the pastor has to rest when the pastor has to stop and pause to be refreshed to be replenished for the work that is ahead so before i go any further just want to say thank you to the amazing staff of fellowship chicago to all of the executive executive leaders of fellowship chicago i want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and say that i love you it is with heaviness it is with great sadness it is with apprehension even that i have to come and update you on where we're headed in the month of september with an abundance of caution and love for you your health it is unfortunate and it is [Music] it even gives me some pause to have to come to you and let you know that we have to push back our reopening for the month of september with this new delta variant and so many unknowns when it comes to this virus it is our desire always to care for your trichotomous being i know that we are a church but it is our goal to not just care about your soul and not just care about your spirit but we also care about your health we care about your physical health we care about your mental health and in an abundance of caution and concern and love we are pushing back our re-entry for the month of september here's what i need you to know we will still worship 10 o'clock on the virtual ship there will be no live audience during the sunday worship services so i know some of you all have registered you've bought new outfits to make sure that you will be clean with your fellowship membership lean but i need for you to put that outfit in the back of your closet and press pause on that because we will not allow any live audience members on sunday morning worship services for the month of september we are pushing back our reentry and our reopening we were looking forward to having 7 45 and 10 a.m service we're pushing even those things back we will only have one service at 10 am we will still worship on sunday morning 10 a.m on the virtual ship come the first sunday first wednesday excuse me of september we will be back with our refuels on the virtual ship and my installation and the installation revivals will still take place but only program participants i know i know only program participants my family and a few a handful of special guests will be allowed in the sanctuary here's the preeminent problem the prominent problem was we opened up the doors to a capacity of about 500 well after speaking to some public health officials in the city after our executive leadership team met with some epidemiologists they advised us there is no way that you can have 500 plus people coming into the sanctuary of fellowship chicago and not put multiple lives at risk even if they're vaccinated even if you have a mask on it's still very risky i know others are doing what they need to do for their context so i'm asking once again with a heavy heart please trust your pastor trust that this decision is not one that i'm happy about but it is one that i have to make because i'm your shepherd and because i have to care for your trichotomous being your mind your body and your spirit so i know that a lot of us are upset about this some of you purchase tickets well let's press pause we're still going to celebrate we're still having our 71st church anniversary we're still going to have our installation we're still going to have our installation revivals we will still be worshiping at 10 a.m on sunday 7 p.m on wednesdays we're still going to grow god's still gonna do more than we ever expected and i thank you so so much for supporting me as the pastor of fellowship chicago and supporting your church family we need you in this season like never before please please hang on in there because i believe with all my heart things will get better it may take time we can't rush it it will get better we will be back together sooner rather than later but right now let's press pause on all of this and make sure we're moving with an abundance of caution can somebody say amen finally even in october we're planning on hopefully being able to come back but just wait on that don't tell anybody well when are y'all gonna come back we don't know right now wait to hear from your pastor wait to hear from the undershepherd and when you hear it from me you'll know how to move forward again thank you to my staff thank you to our leaders our deacons our trustees and to all of you that make up the virtual ship family i love you from the bottom of my heart peace peace welcome good morning my name is jaden walker from the children's ministry i am excited to welcome you aboard the virtual ship we pray that you are blessed today in a special way come on enjoy worship with us good morning good morning good morning welcome back to the virtual ship it's so good to have you on board once again wherever you are put your blessed hands together and thank god for allowing you to see yet another sunday morning it is so so good to be in your presence again virtually and also there are some very special people who are in the building worshipping it with us god bless you all for being here amen amen family you have the opportunity now to give there are seven ways to give that are popping up on the screen and we ask now that you give generously to the god who has given so much to each and every one of us we're waiting with anticipation for pastor sharp's installation celebration which is coming in just a few more weeks i'll be back a little later we'll see you soon peace peace [Music] wow [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] no one [Music] [Music] no one can take his can't place his place [Music] [Music] is [Music] undefeated [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] he is a strong tower [Music] [Music] is undefeated you'll always win [Music] [Music] i don't have to worry [Music] is [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is my [Music] happy sunday fellowship my name is camaria snail this is my wicked dish of fanatics fellowship news network [Music] join that sunday august 29th at 12 pm to 2pm for our back-to-school drive-through we will have blue backs filled with school supplies for preschool through high school students supplies our limited still drive through water supplies last our ministries are back from sabbatical and we're moving full speed ahead join us for some upcoming events safe and wells in prayer call monday through friday at 7 00 a.m and saturday at 12 pm [Music] soulmates marriage ministry conversation over coffee saturday august 28th at 10 a.m men's ministry man cave every second and fourth saturday at 10 a.m for more information on these events or you want to get involved with our ministries head over to our website we want you all to be connected now we have some special announcements for you come check them out hey family god bless you god bless you i pray that you are well i pray that you are healthy i pray that your family is well first let me just pause and say thank you thank you for allowing my wife and i some space in this month for our sabbatical fellowship there's no church on the planet like you and i want you to know that i love you and i appreciate your kindness your maturity and even your generosity throughout this month i'm so glad that we at fellowship understand that god is the only god and the pastor is simply a vessel and there are seasons when the pastor has to rest when the pastor has to stop and pause to be refreshed to be replenished for the work that is ahead so before i go any further just want to say thank you to the amazing staff of fellowship chicago to all of the executive executive leaders of fellowship chicago i want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and say that i love you it is with heaviness it is with great sadness it is with apprehension even that i have to come and update you on where we're headed in the month of september with an abundance of caution and love for you your health it is unfortunate and it is [Music] it even gives me some pause to have to come to you and let you know that we have to push back our reopening for the month of september with this new delta variant and so many unknowns when it comes to this virus it is our desire always to care for your trichotomous being i know that we are a church but it is our goal to not just care about your soul and not just care about your spirit but we also care about your health we care about your physical health we care about your mental health and in an abundance of caution and concern and love we are pushing back our reentry for the month of september here's what i need you to know we will still worship 10 o'clock on the virtual ship there will be no live audience during the sunday worship services so i know some of you all have registered you've bought new outfits to make sure that you will be clean with your fellowship membership lean but i need for you to put that outfit in the back of your closet and press pause on that because we will not allow any live audience members on sunday morning worship services for the month of september we are pushing back our reentry and our reopening we were looking forward to having 7 45 and 10 a.m service we're pushing even those things back we will only have one service at 10 am we will still worship on sunday morning 10 a.m on the virtual ship come the first sunday first wednesday excuse me of september we will be back with our refuels on the virtual ship and my installation and the installation revivals will still take place but only program participants i know i know only program participants my family and a few a handful of special guests will be allowed in the sanctuary here's the preeminent problem the prominent problem was we opened up the doors to a capacity of about 500. well after speaking to some public health officials in the city after our executive leadership team met with some epidemiologists they advised us there is no way that you can have 500 plus people coming into the sanctuary of fellowship chicago and not put multiple lives at risk even if they're vaccinated even if you have a mask on it's still very risky i know others are doing what they need to do for their context so i'm asking once again with a heavy heart please trust your pastor trust that this decision is not one that i'm happy about but it is one that i have to make because i'm your shepherd and because i have to care for your trichotomous being your mind your body and your spirit so i know that a lot of us are upset about this some of you purchase tickets well let's press pause we're still going to celebrate we're still having our 71st church anniversary we're still going to have our installation we're still going to have our installation revivals we will still be worshiping at 10 a.m on sunday 7 p.m on wednesdays we're still gonna grow god's still gonna do more than we ever expected and i thank you so so much for supporting me as the pastor of fellowship chicago and supporting your church family we need you in this season like never before please please hang on in there because i believe with all my heart things will get better it may take time we can't rush it it will get better we will be back together sooner rather than later but right now let's press pause on all of this and make sure we're moving with an abundance of caution can somebody say amen finally even in october we're planning on hopefully being able to come back but just wait on that don't tell anybody well when are you all gonna come back we don't know right now wait to hear from your pastor wait to hear from the under shepherd and when you hear it from me you'll know how to move forward again thank you to my staff thank you to our leaders our deacons our trustees and to all of you that make up the virtual ship family i love you from the bottom of my heart peace peace fellowship chicago presents summertime shy worship vibes every sunday in august we're welcoming guest speakers to the ship this is our event featuring dr freddie haynes you better recognize it's time for you to find and use your voice why because the stage has already been set for you and hosted by our very own pastor reginald w sharp jr summertime shy worship vibes make plans now and tell your friends and family every sunday in august streaming sundays at 10 a.m on youtube facebook and dot com summertime shy worship files don't miss it [Music] september is almost here which means it's our church anniversary month fellowship is turning seventy-one [Music] that's 71 years of ministry and service 71 years of kinship a friendship a relationship 71 years of god being awesome 71 years of excellence and god doing more than we ever expected sunday september 5th is anniversary kickoff sunday we are super excited to kick the month off celebrating like only fellowship does join us aboard the virtual ship at 10 am sunday september 12th is our official 71st church anniversary celebration we will celebrate like only fellowship does and honor three living legends of fellowship on this day dr lou della evans read reverend ferris evans and reverend jesse jackson you do not want to miss this crazy party after church we are having an anniversary drive-through we will have music and special anniversary gifts to give away pull up from 12pm to 2pm to fellowship with us september 18th 19th 21st 22nd and 23rd is the official installation celebration for our very own senior pastor reverend reginald wayne sharpe jr take a look at what we have in store the pastoral installation celebration join us september 18th through the 23rd as we celebrate the installation of pastor reginald w sharp jr at fellowship chicago featuring pastor emeritus dr charles jingling his grace is sufficient for me you might have to pivot twist turn a chest rearrange rethink reconsider recalibrate but say it it's my season feature dr e dewey smith jr your works don't bring your salvation i don't work to get saved i work because i am saved and the installation revival tuesday dr marcus cosby the truth of the matter is i'm saved by the power of the lord jesus christ and can nobody take my salvation the bible says those who are in the lord's hand nobody can plug them out and guest psalmist kathy taylor [Music] [Music] did you hear me blessings and glory thanksgiving [Music] bishop walter scott thomas because god has brought you a higher brought you higher and it does not yet appear it does not yet appear what you shall become but you shall be like him [Music] the legacy continues the pastoral installation celebration streaming live on facebook youtube and fellowshipchicago.com full speed ahead [Music] sunday september 26th is hero sunday a fellowship hero is someone who goes over and beyond at the church in their community or in their career we will honor those individuals on this day to nominate someone to be a fellowship hero head over to fellowshipchicago.com today deadline for nominations is friday september 3rd 2021 we want everyone on board as we set sail into 71 years of fellowship [Music] we're preparing for the families of deborah massey and the passion of her parents princess and jane lyle the whirling red man and the passion of her mother theresa redmond please keep these families and all those who are spearing a lost one in your prayers this is a wrap for this week's edition of fna news please check out our church website and social media pages for digital announcements and more for a real-time update text fellowship chicago 142-55949 have a great week [Music] summertime shy worship box reverend marissa r farrow started her public ministry by preaching her initial sermon before she graduated high school in 2007. since then she's finished her degree and has been preaching the gospel around the country in churches conferences and national platforms marissa currently serves as preaching assistant and minister to young adults at the greater allen amy cathedral of new york she is on a mission for god to advocate for youth women and leaders please welcome this morning to the fellowship chicago platform reverend marissa r pharaoh well praise the lord everybody this is the day that the lord has made and we have come for no other reason than to rejoice and to be glad in it come on right in your living rooms right on your job right in your driveway wherever you may be would you just give god a praise where you are for the power of our god that has blessed us and kept us and brought us safely this far amen we greet you with jesus joy certainly we are excited about another sunday that the lord has blessed us and allowed us to share together one with another i love this season believe it or not because i have found about the transcending power of god that will leave where i am and meet you where you are and so we give god glory today for his power in our lives would you help me honor god for the set angel of this great house none other than my friend my brother my favorite young preacher pastor reginald wayne sharpe jr come on all across the world y'all help me bless god for pastor shark and for his lovely lady who holds him together would you help me thank god for my sister free honor shark come on y'all put your hands together hallelujah for the power of god amen we thank god for each and every one of you my brothers and my sisters who are tuned in on this sunday morning i look forward to the opportunity to share the word with you so would you do me a favor just grab your bibles amen as we pursue this amen sermonic moment and go with me to second corinthians chapter 12 i'll be reading verses one through nine second corinthians chapter number 12 verse one through nine amen and i would that you would just go with me amen if you're on your smart device this morning if you're on your old school flip bible whatever you have go with me to second corinthians chapter 12 verse one through nine it reads on this liking i must go on boasting although there is nothing to be gained i will go into visions and revelations from the lord the new international version says i know a man in christ who 14 years ago was caught up into the third heaven whether it was in the body or out of the body i do not know god knows and i know that this man whether in the body or apart from the body i do not know but god knows was caught up to a paradise and heard inexpressible things that no one is permitted to tell verse 5 says i will boast about a man like that but i will not boast about myself except about my weakness even if i should choose the bose i would not be a fool because i would be speaking the truth but i refrain so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what i say or what i do or because of these surpassingly great revelations therefore in order to keep me from becoming conceited i was given a thorn in my flesh a messenger of satan sent to torment me king james said sent to buffett me lest i become exalted above magic and i'll be in verse 8 says three times i pleaded with the lord to take it away from me but he said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness therefore i will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that christ's power may reside in me would you bow your heads forward of prayer gracious god our eternal father it is once more and again that we your humble servants come before your holy and your righteous name and god this morning before we ask you for anything we want to take the time to tell you thank you for everything we thank you for your goodness we thank you for your kindness and father now we thank you for your mercy now i pray that you would in fact and indeed hide me behind the shadows of your cross that the people may only hear see and know you and me pray now that you help me preach to the end that sinners are saved lives are changed and the body of christ is edified and now god we ask for two things a word that is precise and right in jesus name let the people of god shout amen amen and amen come on on your way to your seats and write in your living room won't you tag somebody you watching service with this morning and tell them neighbor it's the god in me it's the god in me my brothers and my sisters as i pause and give consideration to the season that we have been in i am convinced that in spite of all that we have witnessed and experienced in our lives both globally and personally that we are gathered here today still with a little piece of our right frame of mind pursuing the call and the purpose that has been set before us and that has only been allowed through the power of god that is at work within us because when i look back over the last year and a half of my life i can truly say that i had to remain intact and it was only through and by the power of god because when jobs were being lost and people were being lost and lives were in jeopardy when homes were in jeopardy when the governments and scientists didn't know what to do when the world was in a disarray i didn't feel that i had the power of myself to stay on my feet or even in my right mind but i recognize that the testimony of my survival today is that it was the god inside of me when my world was crashing down because maybe you aren't the individual who was so moved by the global pandemic but rather the pandemic of your personal predicament when your life was on a crash course far before covet 19 so that moment when you lost the loved one unexpectedly that moment when the school you were trying to get in denied your financial aid that moment when the doctor gave you a bad report and your whole world came crashing down the only reason you are yet alive to tell the story today is because of the power of god that is at work within you power a word that is synonymous with things like authority and supremacy and control power to carry weight clout or strength my testimony today is that i'm only here because of the power of god that is in me and i know that it is not traditional of us to give god glory this early in a sermon but i just wonder if there's somebody who can tell god thank you for the power that is at work within us because that's the only reason i'm still staying there that's really why i didn't quit that's why i didn't fumble in the fourth quarter that's why i hadn't given up that's why i'm standing here today not on my own strength or my own night but because there is a power that is bigger than me that is at work within me yeah and i believe this morning that there's somebody's testimony that you are only here in your right frame of mind because of the power of god that is in you and can i tell you that as i consider the power of god that is very profound in nature because when you stop and consider essentially what we are saying is that there is no us without him and essentially y'all that is a statement of exaltation to the fact that you can be nothing apart from god and paul is a writer who understands this concept but not only does he understand the concept of being connected to god and empowered through god but paul is a writer who understand the depths of god's power for after all it was paul who upon sitting under the best of the best having learned greek hebrew and arab arabic having said under the rabbinical teachings of some of the greatest minds of his times pastor sharp he writes to the leaders in athens and says to them that it is yet in him that i live move and have my very being paul understands that we are nothing apart from god paul understands the power of god after all it was paul who declared in praying for more for the people of the church at ephesus and now unto him who was able to do exceeding and abundantly above everything that we can never act think or imagine according to the power that is at work within us meaning paul understands that our power is not about all but it is the god who is at work within us all in all y'all paul understands the depth of god's power and here now we are brought to another point in his apostolic literature that reveals and reflects both the power and purity of god for it is at this stage where it begins to unfold in the context of this text today where paul again is writing to the church at corinth about a vision and a thorn paul opens up the stage of this experience and he has now had with god and theologians would suggest that perhaps this honor of being caught up into the third heavens may have taken place during his three days without sight during his conversion experience at damascus he now refers to this experience with honor and great mystery he describes this as being known a man who was caught up into the third heavens this is an experience that is so great it is so magnanimous that he can't even publish what happened there in this writing he refers to himself in third person understand that his reference to himself in third person is a sign of his humility regarding the experience we can then infer that what paul is describing is something he feels happened to him but was not particularly for him follow this now paul is a man whom he speaks of in verse four one through four of this chapter but he refers to himself in this story in third person he says i know a man who was caught up in the highest heavens an experience that is inexpressible in nature it is of the highest honor to be caught up into an inexpressible paradise and not be able to verbalize what took place there but the reference of himself in third person would tell us that what happened to him it happened to him but not for him but rather for the glory of god indicating to us that often the experiences that we have in our lives being negative or positive can happen to us and yet not be for us paul teaches us that it is an honor to be caught up in any type of god experience whether god has allowed us to enter into the height of glory or into the valley of the shadow of death when it is a god experience it can be happening to you and yet not before you what are you saying preacher i'm saying that perhaps the experience that you're in right now is happening to you but it's really not about you paul is essentially talking about being used by god but what we must understand is that it is not limited to a certain type of experience in god because i know that it's easier to be able to declare that everything we have felt in god was so wonderful and it was all sunshine we don't like the experiences that are full of rain and gloom but there is something that paul is teaching us about the honor of being in the hand of god no matter if i've been invited into the unsearchable mysteries of god's glory or if i find myself encountering the trying of my faith that work of patience every experience is a god experience i wish i had somebody who would just shout at me and declare every experience is a god experience and i believe that paul knew this and that's why he pinned this message to the philippian church that i have learned to be contempt in whatever state i find myself because paul is a man who understands that to be with god and to be used by god to be kept in god is an honor in and of itself and because paul holds every experience as a god experience it's an honor because paul knows that he is a man of god who is being used by god paul then says in this text i will boast about what god has done in me but i will not boast about me because at the end of the day it is not about what i have experienced but whether what god is capable of doing in me he says i will boast about a man like that because i recognize that it's not about me but rather about god's glory and i just wonder if i have anybody who can look around at your personal experiences right now and declare like paul this is not about me but this is about god's glory whether he's given you access to boardrooms or whether you find yourself in the struggle of the everyday life i wonder if there's somebody who can just declare this is about god's glory whether he's giving you multi-million dollar contracts or you find yourself struggling to create a book of business i wonder if there's anybody that can declare that it's not about me but rather it's about god's glory and i see god's glory in everything i've learned to see god's glory everywhere it's not just him the way that he's blessed me but shop is also in the way that he's kept me i i see god's glory and not just being accepted but also being rejected because it is god's glory that has orchestrated my path in both his yes and his no i see god's glory and not just being well but also when i'm down that's why i've learned that in everything hallelujah you want to give thanks so this is the will of god in christ jesus concerning us y'all be seated for a moment i'm preaching too early essentially all i am saying is that because god's glory is ever keeping everleading ever guiding ever growing ever moving we have a reason to boast about the glory but y'all the central the central and rooting focus is remembering that the power we have is not in us but it is of god now let's talk about the power of god the power of god is the very ability of god to not just know but to also execute in our lives meaning the power of god flows in both his ability to see and know all but to also do and control all meaning when we see us when we consider ourselves when we see both our accomplishments and our management it is god's power when we see ourselves superseding and yet sustaining it is god's power it is god's ability to not just bring us to a point of purpose in our lives but it is his ability to know the exact path that we must take to get there it is in his knowledge and his ability to not just produce what we need but to push us to a place where he has designed for us it is in god's power that what should have killed us and dropped us crazy and wiped us out and make us lose our mind can end up working for us it is in god's power where he knows what you can handle it is in god's power that you can be tried in the fire and come out as spirit gold it is only in god's power that you can be hard-pressed on every side yet still not be crushed when you can be persecuted and still not forsaken you can be cast down and not destroy it is only in the power of of god paul says i should not boast about myself he says i've seen the inside of jail cells yet i was invited into the third heavens i was once a persecutor of the church yet i am the one who we called into this yes i should boast but i will not boast about myself he says but if i did i would be telling the truth but i dare not because i don't want anybody to think more of me than i ought to you'll see me standing and surviving but please don't ever get it twisted it's not me it's the power of god that's in me you see me operating in god's glory but don't you ever get it twisted it's not me but the power of god that is at work in me and y'all what i understand now is that this is the dramatic nature of paul's writing and his ministry it is solely built around expressing the power of god that is in him so paul continues his writing shop he says that in order to keep me from becoming conceited i was given a thought in my flesh he says it was a messenger of satan sent to buffett me lest i become exalted about measure paul says god keeps me humble by giving me a thorn god and his power knows not just what i need to do his will but he knows what it takes to keep me there god knows me so well that he would grace me with a thought that would not allow me to get to a place where my anointing has carried me but my character can't keep me god it's so powerful that he knows what i need to manage the weight of what he's given me paul says i asked the lord three times to take it away he says i don't want to bear the burden of this humbling experience not because i'm so lofty in him but really if you knew what i was dealing with it would be an embarrassment to his glory see this storm is weighty it's it's heavy it's major and quiet as kept if you knew anything about the magnitude of this stone you wouldn't invite me anywhere if you knew the weight of what i carried in my flesh you would wonder why god uses me if you knew the propensity of my ability to give in to what's embedded in me you would wonder how i carry the name of god but this is the power of god god enters back to paul and he says my grace hallelujah is sufficient for thee meaning what you are carrying in your flesh is not greater than the grace i carry for your future i'ma say it again in case somebody missed it on the live stream what you are carrying in your flesh is not greater than the grace that god carries to your future and i wonder if i have somebody who's right in your living room this morning that would just slap out with somebody who's next to you and tell them neighbor i got a whole lot of reasons to praise god but right here and now i just want to praise him for the grace of my future because had it been up to me i would have given into this thought a long time ago had it been up to me somebody would have written me off a long time ago but thanks be unto god who causes us to triumph i wonder if there's somebody that can take 30 seconds to tell god thank you for the grace i know you feel weak i know you feel like you're not enough i know you feel like it's too big for you but god says my grace is meeting you in your grief oh i wish you would wave at somebody down your road and tell them neighbor today the reason why i'm shouting it's because i got grateful all of my grief i got grace for my heartache i got graceful my hang up i got grace for my addiction i got grace from my bad habits i've got grace for my proclaimities is there somebody who can throw your head back and tell god thank you thank you for the grace oh for grace thank you for the grace the grace that met me when i messed up the grace that kept me when i wanted to give up the grace that helped me together when i exposed my hand thank you for thank you for the grace y'all i gotta get out of here paul's assertion through the response of god is that you must understand that grace is necessary to meet you when you grieve you'll be seated i'm getting out of here but can i tell you what i love your god answers paul back he says my grace is sufficient for thee meaning you are covered by the grace that god has given you paul says i ask the lord to take it away but not only did god tell me that i got grace for my grief but then god took it a step further and he said my strength is made perfect in your weakness yo king james recorded as my strength being made perfect but the new international version says my power is made perfect the passion translation says that my power finds its full expression in your weakness meaning paul is essentially saying that you haven't really experienced the power of god until you've been in a low place that ought to had a blessed about 10 of y'all because some of y'all felt like it was at rock bottom right now but god says you're about to experience the full extent of my power you don't even know what i'm capable of doing until you reach rock bottom i wish you would wave at somebody and tell them neighbor your mess is a good place for god to show up and perform a miracle i know you feel like you're not great enough but god says my power reaches its full extent in your weakness so the question that somebody may have come here with this morning is how is god's power enough but i'm glad you asked because when i read the scripture understanding the extent of the word power i recognize that there are some characteristics about the power of god that would reaffirm to every believer how god's power is enough in case you felt like your hang up was too big for the power of god in case you felt like your situation was too big for the power of god would you wave at somebody and tell them neighbor tell them the preacher came to give you good news that god's power is more than enough i know it ain't that profound i know it really ain't that deep but when i really think about it i have no choice but to tell them thank you because his power is enough well preacher how do you know that god's power is enough because when i looked at the definition of the word power i recognize that power is essentially limitless the power that is in god's hand it has no depth or no length god's power is something that will never run out see things run out and people run out stuff runs out and money runs out but the good news today about the power of god is that it will never it will never run out on you it's important to note that when you look at the word power power means the place of supply and can i tell you what paul is saying he's saying god's supply reaches its full extent when you're in your weakness i heard somebody tell me that he is jehovah jiren the lord who will provide and ain't it just like god to provide for me from a wealth that never enjoy would you wave at somebody and tell them neighbor i got a god who has a limitless supply whatever you need it is found in help whatever you're looking for he is more than able to do what you need and more would you wave at somebody and tell them neighbor god's supply is made perfect in your weakness whenever you're in trouble just run to the supply whenever you're empty just run to the supply whenever you own it just run to the supply because god will be right there you wonder now how i'm still standing is because i've seen the never-ending supply of gold you wonder how we're still preaching after all we've been through it's because i've seen the never-ending supply of gold i'm still here because i'm standing not on my own strength but on the supply oh my god but not only is power meaning supply but god's power is also persuasive would you whisper ask somebody and tell them neighbor god's power carries persuasion understand y'all that power is defined as one's ability to be able to persuade or influence the behavior of others on the course of events and so paul is saying that god's persuasion god's opinion god's influence is expressed in my weakness and if this be true you're telling me that when i'm down on my luck the opinion of god will override my issue but what is the opinion of god the opinion of god is the finest the cabal it is the doctrine it is the shekinah in other words the glory the glory of god is persuading my situation that's why all things are working together for the good of them that love the lord because god and all of his glory are causing things and causing people and causing stuff to move on my behalf paul is reminding us that the persuasion of god's glory is made perfect in my weakness but not only is god's power not only is it limitless not only is god's power not only is it persuasive but i got good news to your mind right now flowers in chicago if i close my sherman wave at somebody i tell a neighbor wow [Music] tell them god's power is authority look at them like you're walking with the power of god tell them god's power is authority can i tell you that not only is power to find their supply not only his power to find us persuasion but power is defined as authority and i don't know about you but i'm glad to know that god's authority reaches its full extent in my weakness because that means that when i'm in trouble the sovereignty of god right in to my situation and tells the devil he got to back up my life back up off my children back up of my money back up of my marriage because the authority of god has the final shame that's why you're here because the authority of god said you shall live and not die point out somebody tell them live live live the authority of god says greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world the authority of god says i'm the head and not the tail the authority of god says weeping may you do for a night but john [Music] is coming in the morning the authority of god says that after you have suffered just a while god will strengthen and establish you the authority of god says i reckon that the suffrage of this process i'm not worthy to be compared to the glory when you look at somebody tell them it is the god in me that's why i'm here that's why i didn't jump that's why i didn't go crazy that's why i didn't walk away it's the god in me if you believe it say it [Music] it's the god in me it's the god in me that's why i'm steady that's why i'm alive that's why i came back that's why i didn't give up because of the clouds you wonder why cats didn't beat me it was the it was [Music] you wonder why i'm still praising you wonder why i'm still standing you underwear i'm still survived this is my story this is my show crazy [Music] [Music] hey [Music] but it is the christ that lives in me [Music] god's supply reaches its fullest expression in my weakness god's persuasion reaches its fullest expression in my weakness god's authority hallelujah jesus reaches its fullest expression in my weakness paul what are you telling the church today tell the jurors that as you go forward in him as we walk into this season of divine restoration as we move forward in god forgetting those things of what's behind us pressing towards the call that is before us as we go and go the enemy the enemy the enemy has tried to convince us that we were gonna quit we were gonna lose it we weren't gonna make it but today come to tell you when you get back fellowship chicago when you walk back through these doors when you go on to your job when you walk back in your home you want to turn your praise up just a little bit louder because it's not on your own strength but it's because of the power of god in you father in jesus name lord i thank you today for your power that is at work not just in me but around me [Music] god i thank you for the kind of power [Music] that creates a well that i can draw from when i am empty i thank you for the kind of power that will cause things and people and opportunities to line up around me to work for me i thank you for the kind of power that speaks in my situation and declares that even the winds and the waves got to obey your voice thank you for being the god of power thank you for being a god who is not just around me but one that is in me thank you for being the kind of god who has tethered our strength so that when i don't have one i can pull from you how god there's somebody who came this morning who was weak and won but today father remind them of the tethering power of god the god who exchanges our beauty for ashes the god who will take our burden and turn it into a blessing the god who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above everything we could have as think or imagine according to the power that is at work within us now father i thank you because the person who came in looking for strength found it today because somewhere between the asking and the amen there is an answer so now god we lift our hands and we praise you for answering prayers in jesus name if you know that god has already answered your prayer would you put a praise in your house would you put a praise in this house that gives god the glory for answering your prayers come on lift your voice open your mouth and give them praise [Music] hallelujah hallelujah [Music] for your power hallelujah [Music] lord we thank you for your word anybody know about that power anybody know about that power she was talking about you may be out there and you may not have been able to experience that power because in order to gain that power you have to have access and access is made through jesus christ we want to offer jesus to you we want to offer jesus to you if you look on the screen there's a number there you can call there's an email you can write to and we want to connect you with jesus so that you might have access to that power the praise team is going to come now in worship and you can have access to that power that's good to know because when times get tough you're gonna need that power when the way it gets hard you're gonna need that power and after you have access to that power you can then call him a wave maker you can call him a miracle worker you can call him a promise keeper help us praise t way maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness my god that is [Music] [Music] come on you know this thing with come on us come to worship him today day listen family you can have another opportunity to give seven ways to give are on the screen so into this word i promise you if you sow into this word you're gonna see some life-changing alterations in the days to come you will receive power after the holy ghost has come upon you we want to thank you so much for tuning in this morning may your struggles keep you near the cross may your troubles show that you need god made your battles in the way they should and may your whole life prove that god is good i pray your entire life proves that god is good peace peace he's a waymaker he's a worse miracle workers that is who you are [Music] me is [Music] [Music] hallelujah glory to jesus glory to jesus glory to jesus glory to jesus glory to jesus may your struggles keep you near the cross may your troubles that prove that you need god may your battles in the way they should may your bad days prove that god is good i pray your whole life prove that god is good hey family god bless you god bless you i pray that you are well i pray that you are healthy i pray that your family is well first let me just pause and say thank you thank you for allowing my wife and i some space in this month for our sabbatical fellowship there's no church on the planet like you and i want you to know that i love you and i appreciate your kindness your maturity and even your generosity throughout this month i'm so glad that we at fellowship understand that god is the only god and the pastor is simply a vessel and there are seasons when the pastor has to rest when the pastor has to stop and pause to be refreshed to be replenished for the work that is ahead so before i go any further just want to say thank you to the amazing staff of fellowship chicago to all of the executive executive leaders of fellowship chicago i want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and say that i love you it is with heaviness it is with great sadness it is with apprehension even that i have to come and update you on where we're headed in the month of september with an abundance of caution and love for you your health it is unfortunate and it is it even gives me some pause to have to come to you and let you know that we have to push back our reopening for the month of september with this new delta variant and so many unknowns when it comes to this virus it is our desire always to care for your trichotomous being i know that we are a church but it is our goal to not just care about your soul and not just care about your spirit but we also care about your health we care about your physical health we care about your mental health and in an abundance of caution and concern and love we are pushing back our re-entry for the month of september here's what i need you to know we will still worship 10 o'clock on the virtual ship there will be no live audience during the sunday worship services so i know some of you all have registered you've bought new outfits to make sure that you will be clean with your fellowship membership lean but i need for you to put that outfit in the back of your closet and press pause on that because we will not allow any live audience members on sunday morning worship services for the month of september we are pushing back our reentry and our reopening we were looking forward to having 7 45 and 10 a.m service we're pushing even those things back we will only have one service at 10 am we will still worship on sunday morning 10 a.m on the virtual ship come the first sunday first wednesday excuse me of september we will be back with our refuels on the virtual ship and my installation and the installation revivals will still take place but only program participants i know i know only program participants my family and a few a handful of special guests will be allowed in the sanctuary here's the preeminent problem the prominent problem was we opened up the doors to a capacity of about 500 well after speaking to some public health officials in the city after our executive leadership team met with some epidemiologists they advised us there is no way that you can have 500 plus people coming into the sanctuary of fellowship chicago and not put multiple lives at risk even if they're vaccinated even if you have a mask on it's still very risky i know others are doing what they need to do for their context so i'm asking once again with a heavy heart please trust your pastor trust that this decision is not one that i'm happy about but it is one that i have to make because i'm your shepherd and because i have to care for your trichotomous being your mind your body and your spirit so i know that a lot of us are upset about this some of you purchase tickets well let's press pause we're still going to celebrate we're still having our 71st church anniversary we're still going to have our installation we're still going to have our installation revivals we will still be worshiping at 10 a.m on sunday 7 p.m on wednesdays we're still going to grow god's still going to do more than we ever expected and i thank you so so much for supporting me as the pastor fellowship chicago and supporting your church family we need you in this season like never before please please hang on in there because i believe with all my heart things will get better it may take time we can't rush it it will get better we will be back together sooner rather than later but right now let's press pause on all of this and make sure we're moving with an abundance of caution can somebody say amen finally even in october we're planning on hopefully being able to come back but just wait on that don't tell anybody well when are y'all gonna come back we don't know right now wait to hear from your pastor wait to hear from the under shepherd and when you hear it from me you'll know how to move forward again thank you to my staff thank you to our leaders our deacons our trustees and to all of you that make up the virtual ship family i love you from the bottom of my heart peace peace thank you for worshiping with fellowship chicago on the virtual ship we've always had a commitment of service and during this season we've increased our efforts to serve you better we have made it easy for you to stay connected to get the complete resources you need you can email us at info fellowship chicago dot com call the church office tuesday through friday 9 a.m to 5 p.m at 773-924-3232 and our social media on instagram twitter and facebook for real-time updates you can text fellowship chicago to 55949 we have exciting and informative resources throughout the entire week designed specifically with you in mind go to fellowshipchicago.com for the full schedule until we dock again thank you for your prayers and financial support of fellowship chicago remember we are in this together [Music]

Channel: FellowshipChicago

Views: 9,067

Rating: 4.9615383 out of 5

Keywords: Worship Service, Pastor Sharpe, Fellowship Chicago

Id: zCxihLnwlmQ

Length: 78min 39sec (4719 seconds)

Published: Sun Aug 22 2021